BOSTON -- Jason Collins, the first active athlete to come out as being gay in one of the four U.S. major professional sports leagues, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park on Thursday night before the Red Sox played the Texas Rangers.

Collins came out in a first-person article in Sports Illustrated in late April. He's played for six NBA teams in 12 seasons. He was dealt in a midseason trade from the Boston Celtics to the Washington Wizards and becomes a free agent July 1. He's said he'd like to continue his career.

The 7-foot center was greeted with a nice applause when the PA announcer read the opening of the SI article: "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay."

Wearing a Red Sox jersey with the No. 98 on the back, Collins threw out the first pitch to Red Sox manager John Farrell.

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz feels everyone should support each other based on how they act.

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